Drivers on New Year’s weekend will notice more Chilton County Sheriff's Office cars on the roads, than usual. And it won't be the last time this coming year that the office has extra manpower for traffic enforcement.

A grant from ADECA (Alabama Department of Economic And Community Affairs) is enabling the department to pay deputies overtime hours for traffic enforcement during times of heavy traffic risk, such as New Year’s weekend.

The grant gives busy deputies an opportunity to spend more time on the roads and, in turn, make them safer. The grant funding is to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities. This grant will not take away from the deputies serving the citizens of Chilton County. The number one complaint the Sheriff’s Office receives from citizens is that we need to write more traffic tickets. The number two complaint is that we write too many tickets.

Each year, Chilton County Sheriff’s Office issues hundreds of citations and warnings to drivers not to raise money for the Sheriff’s Office, but solely to protect the citizens and visitors who are using our roadways. It is the duty of each Deputy Sheriff to enforce posted speed limits and the traffic laws and we are committed to do our duty to the highest level possible.

Sheriff’s Deputies do not have quotas for traffic citations, and we fully support our Deputy’s decision to give warnings in lieu of citations at their discretion depending on the circumstances. It is also a common misconception that the Sheriff’s Office receives all of the money from traffic fines, the great majority of the money collected goes to the State of Alabama.

The grant pay’s officers for overtime hours spent enforcing speeding, distracted driving, seat belt, and drinking & driving laws. Typically Deputy’s spend so much time following up on criminal complaints, calls for service and cases that they do not have much time for traffic enforcement. While Chilton County Sheriff’s Deputy’s typically do not work the Interstate 65, with this ADECA grant they will be working parts of I-65 in Chilton County.

The grant is nothing new for the department. The department has received similar traffic enforcement grants for the last several years.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers and passengers to be mindful of buckling up, and to drive safely. Citizens can report criminal and traffic issues by calling 205-755-2511.